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Resident accuses committee of overstating trail support; committee cites survey and charrettes
Summary
A public commenter said the committee mischaracterized survey results regarding trails; committee members cited specific survey questions and charrette feedback showing broad support for pedestrian/bike paths and trails and clarified the trail language is a recommendation to the council.
At the Cumberland Comprehensive Plan Committee public hearing, resident Joe Kamiska challenged the committee’s portrayal of survey results, saying the committee's language overstated support for the large trail project and that the survey did not explicitly ask about 'trails.'
"This is not responsive to the actual results of the survey," Kamiska said, arguing the draft report recast a question about sidewalks and bike connections into support for 'paths and trails' and questioned the demand for a proposed multi‑mile trail referenced at a council meeting.
Committee members responded by citing the survey instruments and additional engagement. Steve Moriarty pointed to question 30 (transportation) and said that 68 percent of respondents either strongly or somewhat agreed the town should invest in walkable and bikeable connections; Jesse Lamar Vincent cited question 16, saying 52 percent 'strongly support' and 26 percent 'somewhat support' pedestrian and bike paths and trails. Evan Sweetser added that the committee’s findings drew both from the written survey and broader public charrettes and an open house.
The committee emphasized that the plan’s rail‑trail language is a recommendation to the town council and that any specific large project would require separate council decisions, funding and further public process.
